Gephardt says Condit is cooperating fully

Gephardt, right, voiced support for Condit, left, on Thursday

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt says Rep. Gary Condit is "cooperating in every possible way" with authorities in the case of missing intern Chandra Levy.

The ranking House Democrat also said Thursday that people need to "keep the focus on finding this young woman."

"As a parent, if this happened to one of my children, I would be very, very upset, as they are, and I would be wanting all the effort to be focused on finding my child. And that's what ought to happen," said Gephardt, D-Missouri.

VIDEO CNN's Martin Savidge reports on possible GOP challengers to Condit's Democratic seat (July 11) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Jonathan Karl says the controversy surrounding Condit has seeped into his political life (July 11) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   EXTRA INFORMATION Polygraph facts     RESOURCES On the Scene: Jonathan Karl on how the Condit story is playing on Capitol Hill   Message board: The case of the missing intern

The swirling news media attention on the relationship between Condit and Levy hasn't had any "marked effect on what we're doing," Gephardt said, adding that House members are "fully focused on what's in front of us."

"Again, I think members want the focus to be on finding the young woman and on him cooperating in every possible way with the police investigation," he said. "The rest of it will take care of itself down the line."

Gephardt said he has not talked with Condit in recent days but added: "Gary is cooperating in every possible way with the police investigation ... and that's what he should continue to do."

Police sources have said Condit has admitted to having an affair with Levy, 24, although the congressman, through paper statements, his spokesman and lawyers, has publicly denied an affair.

Police say Condit, a 53-year-old married father of two, is not a suspect, and the case is being treated as a missing person case.

Authorities are, however, negotiating with Condit's lawyers about a polygraph for the lawmaker.

Federal investigators are talking to a flight attendant who claims she had an affair with Condit and that he asked her to lie about it.

Anne Marie Smith returned to the U.S. attorney's office Thursday for more questioning. She returned to her hotel in the early afternoon. Condit has denied that he asked Smith to misled anyone.

Smith met for seven hours with one FBI agent, two District of Columbia police detectives and two U.S. attorneys in Washington on Wednesday, said Jim Robinson, her attorney.